NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y.— In the final game of the regular season, the Sacred Heart University men's basketball team fell 90-88 on the road at Iona in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) action on Saturday evening. Tanner Thomas led four players in double figures with 20 points. Bryce Johnson and Griffin Barrouk added 17 each, while Anquan Hill added 13 in his first game back in three games. 

Sacred Heart finishes the regular season as the seventh seed and will play Fairfield or Saint Peter's in a First Round game on Tuesday at 8:30 pm at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Records:
Sacred Heart: 14-17, (10-10 MAAC)
Iona: 15-16, (12-8 MAAC)

Leaders:
Tanner Thomas: 20 points, 2 rebounds 
Bryce Johnson: 17 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists
Griffin Barrouk: 17 points, 5 rebounds 
Anquan Hill: 13 points, 2 assists 

Of Note:
Sacred Heart's three-point shooting to start the game was on point, sinking seven triples in the first half. SHU also shot 51.9% (14-27) from the field in the opening frame. 

With a two-point edge, a Griffin Barrouk three-pointer sparked an 8-2 run, capped by a Taj Bryant layup to push the Pioneers ahead 19-11. Iona pulled within six, 19-13, but Barrouk hit another triple as SHU went on a 10-0 run, capped by Johnson for its largest lead of the day, 29-13. 

With a 13-point edge with 6:26 left in the half, Iona went on a 14-0 run to come from behind and take a one-point lead 36-35. Thomas secured a layup to give the Pioneers a 37-36 edge at halftime. 

Sacred Heart scored four straight to jump ahead by five coming out of the break. However, the Gaels answered and pulled within three, but a Johnson triple sent the Pios on an 8-2 run to jump ahead 49-40. 

SHU held a five-point or more advantage until 13:21 when Iona hit a three-pointer, sparking an 8-0 run as the Gaels once again came from behind to take the lead. Five straight points from the Pios put them back ahead by four, but Iona continued to answer. 

After the 70-70 tie at 7:22, neither team led by more than three until 3:55 left to play when Iona took a five-point lead. 

At 2:36, Amiri Stewart had a dunk to pull the Pios within three, but an Iona free throw put the home team ahead by four. Stewart then made a free throw of his own, followed by a Thomas three-pointer with 37 seconds left, to tie the game 88-88. 

Iona made a last-second jump shot before time expired on the shot clock to take a two-point advantage with 9 seconds left to play. Sacred Heart had a last-chance three-point attempt to take the game but was unsuccessful as the Gaels took the 90-88 final. 

The Pioneers shot 50% (31-61) from the field and 44.4% (16-36) from three-point range. Sacred Heart hit a season-high 16 three-pointers. Johnson was a perfect 5-5 from the field, and Barrouk hit 5-7 from beyond the arc. 

Up Next: 
Sacred Heart will make its debut in the MAAC Postseason Tournament as the seventh seed and will face either Fairfield or Saint Peter's in a First Round game on Tuesday at 8:30 pm at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey.